"The 322-foot-tall (98-meter) rocket could have launched as soon as this week after it passed a key fueling test on February 21. During that test, NASA loaded the Space Launch System rocket with super-cold propellants without any major problems, apparently overcoming a persistent hydrogen leak that prevented the mission from launching in early February."
"Ground teams were unable to flow helium into the rocket's upper stage. Unlike the connections to the core stage, which workers can repair at the launch pad, the umbilical lines leading to the upper stage higher up the rocket are only accessible inside the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy."
"Inspections revealed that a seal in the quick disconnect, through which helium flows from ground systems into the rocket, was obstructing the pathway, according to NASA. The team removed the quick disconnect, reassembled the system, and began validating the repairs to the upper stage by running a reduced flow rate of helium through the mechanism to ensure the issue was resolved."
NASA successfully repaired critical issues affecting the Artemis II mission's Space Launch System rocket. The 322-foot-tall vehicle passed a fueling test on February 21, overcoming a persistent hydrogen leak that had delayed the mission in early February. However, a helium flow problem emerged in the upper stage umbilical lines, requiring the rocket's return to the Vehicle Assembly Building on February 25. Engineers identified a dislodged seal in the quick disconnect mechanism obstructing helium flow. The team removed and reassembled the quick disconnect, then validated repairs using reduced helium flow rates. Engineers are investigating how the seal became dislodged to prevent future occurrences. The rocket is expected to return to the launch pad within two weeks.
Read at Ars Technica
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